This will be the first time me taking the CTA to the Cell. The first couple of times, I either had free parking at IIT or a parking pass.

If I take the green line, which station is the best park and ride to 35th-Bronzeville?

Brian26

06-16-2006, 09:20 PM

This will be the first time me taking the CTA to the Cell. The first couple of times, I either had free parking at IIT or a parking pass.

If I take the green line, which station is the best park and ride to 35th-Bronzeville?

Where you coming from? South? West? Or in the city?

realflava23

06-16-2006, 09:21 PM

Where you coming from? South? West? Or in the city?

From the city. I know how the red line is. It is very crowded. It's really bad after the game.

cws05champ

06-16-2006, 09:34 PM

Even though it is crowded, I would still take the Red line. It drops you right at the stadium walls basically and you can usually get on one of the 1st 2 trains after the game...remember go as far to the front of the train as possible, it will be less crowded in the front on the way out.

TheMilkman

06-16-2006, 09:37 PM

Make sure you have enough money on your CTA card for the return trip. It's usually not that bad getting on a train back to the city...but the lines for the fare machines can be horrendous.

Brian26

06-16-2006, 09:42 PM

From the city. I know how the red line is. It is very crowded. It's really bad after the game.

Ok, let me give you a tip...

I've been taking the Green Line all year, getting on and off at Clinton. There's a parking lot about two blocks north of the stop on the west side of Clinton. If you go down there in the late afternoon, you may get to park for free or for very cheap. Also, there are a ton of residential spots in that neighborhood. Might be a good option if you don't want to deal with the Redline.

nasox

06-16-2006, 10:02 PM

This year, I've taken the red line thrice and the green line once. I had an hour to spare on the green line before the game (got on at about 5:30) and while going through the loop, the train stopped for about a half hour for no apparent reason other than too many trains running through the loop. I'd say go to the game taking the red if possible, then return by green (if possible). So instead of being a half hour early, I missed the top of the first. :angry:

And safety is not an issue. It's right by CPD headquarters, so nothing happens.

dcb56

06-16-2006, 10:19 PM

Ok, let me give you a tip...

I've been taking the Green Line all year, getting on and off at Clinton. There's a parking lot about two blocks north of the stop on the west side of Clinton. If you go down there in the late afternoon, you may get to park for free or for very cheap. Also, there are a ton of residential spots in that neighborhood. Might be a good option if you don't want to deal with the Redline.

If I drive into the city, I do the almost the same as you, only I park near the Ashland stop. There is always plenty of free street parking and usually the ride down to the Cell takes no more than 15-20 minutes. I also take the Green Line after the games and while I don't think it's much faster than the Red Line becuase trains run less frequnetly, it's much less stressful becuase the crowds are smaller.

realflava23

06-16-2006, 10:21 PM

I always have enough on my card. Going to the game will no problem. Problem will be is getting back. How crowd is it right after the game on the red line?

whitesoxwilkes

06-16-2006, 10:28 PM

I always have enough on my card. Going to the game will no problem. Problem will be is getting back. How crowd is it right after the game on the red line?

Usually pretty bad.

I mix it up based on how bad the line at the Red Line platform is after games. If it's backed up more than like 50 feet toward the Cell, I hop the green line to Adams/Wabash or Clinton depending on how much I feel like walking.

JB98

06-16-2006, 10:40 PM

I always have enough on my card. Going to the game will no problem. Problem will be is getting back. How crowd is it right after the game on the red line?

Generally, it blows. My policy is red line before the game and green line afterwards. One exception: If it's a blowout game and a lot of people leave early, the red line is much more tolerable.

realflava23

06-16-2006, 10:46 PM

Thanks everyone.

I am thinking of taking the Green Line home, trasferring at Adams to the Brown, and transfer to the Red Line at Fullerton.

Is it a good idea?

dcb56

06-16-2006, 10:48 PM

Thanks everyone.

I am thinking of taking the Green Line home, trasferring at Adams to the Brown, and transfer to the Red Line at Fullerton.

Is it a good idea?

You can transfer directly from Green to Red at State/Lake.

realflava23

06-16-2006, 10:49 PM

You can transfer directly from Green to Red at State/Lake.

Oh yeah, that's right. lol. But would it die now by then?

buehrle4cy05

06-16-2006, 10:52 PM

This is just me, but it seems like whenever I take the Red Line down there there's always some sort of delay. Before a Sox/Twins game earlier this year, we were stopped about 10 feet from the station for a good 10 minutes. Then, I took it down there for a game earlier this month and got caught with another delay between Chinatown and Sox/35th.

JB98

06-16-2006, 11:05 PM

Oh yeah, that's right. lol. But would it die now by then?

Yes. A lot of people get off the red line at Jackson because that's where you transfer to the blue line.

realflava23

06-16-2006, 11:49 PM

Yes. A lot of people get off the red line at Jackson because that's where you transfer to the blue line.

Thanks, most likely, I will do that.

Blueprint1

06-17-2006, 12:54 AM

You can transfer directly from Green to Red at State/Lake. Also at Roosevelt.

viagracat

06-17-2006, 01:35 PM

Last week there were hundreds of people out on 35th Street waiting just to get into the Red Line station after the game. I walked two blocks further east and got a seat on the first Green Line train that rolled in. End of story.

Street parking can be very tight around the Green Line Clinton stop, but is usually available around Ashland. Parking is either expensive or difficult anywhere along the Red Line north of 35th Street.

JohnBasedowYoda

06-17-2006, 02:03 PM

Make sure you have enough money on your CTA card for the return trip. It's usually not that bad getting on a train back to the city...but the lines for the fare machines can be horrendous.

Good call. At least put the money on when you get off the train.

I usually don't take the train but I've made that mistake at Wrigley..nothing like waiting in that line while drunk flub fans struggle to find $1.50 (that's how much it was last time I went to Wrigley).

viagracat

06-17-2006, 04:49 PM

Good call. At least put the money on when you get off the train.

I usually don't take the train but I've made that mistake at Wrigley..nothing like waiting in that line while drunk flub fans struggle to find $1.50 (that's how much it was last time I went to Wrigley).

A CTA ride is now $2. And yeah, put enough in the machine for a round-trip before you head to the ballpark. Seems like 70% of the people who ride trains have never used one of those payboxes before. Just like before I-Pass, I always was right behind that yahoo who had never seen a toll plaza before and didn't realize you have to pay to get through one. :angry:

Brian26

06-17-2006, 06:10 PM

A CTA ride is now $2. And yeah, put enough in the machine for a round-trip before you head to the ballpark. Seems like 70% of the people who ride trains have never used one of those payboxes before. Just like before I-Pass, I always was right behind that yahoo who had never seen a toll plaza before and didn't realize you have to pay to get through one. :angry:

I just picked up the Chicago card....Trips are still $1.75 if you use it, so its still fairly economical.

itsnotrequired

06-17-2006, 07:43 PM

A CTA ride is now $2. And yeah, put enough in the machine for a round-trip before you head to the ballpark. Seems like 70% of the people who ride trains have never used one of those payboxes before. Just like before I-Pass, I always was right behind that yahoo who had never seen a toll plaza before and didn't realize you have to pay to get through one. :angry:

This year seems a lot better in terms of people loading up cards after the game. Last year was brutal.

Still too many using the magnetic swipe cards though. Get a Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus already!

Brian26

06-17-2006, 07:44 PM

Still too many using the magnetic swipe cards though. Get a Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus already!

You don't even have to take the thing out of your wallet. It's unbelievable.

itsnotrequired

06-17-2006, 07:51 PM

You don't even have to take the thing out of your wallet. It's unbelievable.

I was just going to comment on your earlier post. You mean you just got one NOW?:D:

I work with dudes who live in the suburbs and only use the L when going to the airport for business (5 or 6 times a year). Even they have the Chicago Card Plus. You just put it in your wallet and you never think about it again. Our company participates in a "transit benefit plan" where money is taken off my paycheck pre-tax and applied toward my Plus card. I don't even think about it.

Brian26

06-17-2006, 07:54 PM

I was just going to comment on your earlier post. You mean you just got one NOW?

Yeah, I just got it in early May...I procrastinated. It was still free though (They extended the deadline to Memorial Day).

C-Dawg

06-18-2006, 08:54 PM

I usually don't take the train but I've made that mistake at Wrigley..nothing like waiting in that line while drunk flub fans struggle to find $1.50 (that's how much it was last time I went to Wrigley).

A related story - last summer I went to the Cubs/Sox game at the Cell, on what turned out to be the same day as the Gay Pride parade. So the Blue Line station at Forest Park was much busier than normal, with three distinct groups of people: black-clad Sox fans, blue-clad Cub fans, and rainbow-clad gay people - and sure enough, it was the Cub fans who had trouble figuring out how to buy fare cards, and how to put them in the turnstyle! No one else had any trouble.

:?:

realflava23

06-24-2006, 12:39 AM

Thanks everyone. I took the Green Line back. Wasn't crowded at all then took the Red Line (Lake). EMPTY! :cool:

MrRoboto83

06-24-2006, 01:07 AM

Last week there were hundreds of people out on 35th Street waiting just to get into the Red Line station after the game. I walked two blocks further east and got a seat on the first Green Line train that rolled in. End of story.

Street parking can be very tight around the Green Line Clinton stop, but is usually available around Ashland. Parking is either expensive or difficult anywhere along the Red Line north of 35th Street.

To avoid waiting forever to get on the Red Line after the game, get a 1 min start on the crowd. Before the final out is made, make your way up to the concourse by the exit ramp, watch the final few outs up there and rush out of there when the game is over. I am usually on the first train, with out having to wait for anything.